This is a handy and wallet-kind entry appearing in Britten’s centenary
year. Those seeking a good way to add Britten's key orchestral works to
their listening experience and shelves or virtual library need look no further.
More fanatical enthusiasts will have already beaten their path to Decca’s
numbered edition (3000 pieces) of The Complete Works. It’s a luxury
box comprising 65 CDs, a DVD and a substantial hardback book (4785364).
That set is complemented by the EMI
Britten Collector’s Edition of which the current disc is CD 1
in that 2009 set of 37 discs. I see that EMI Classics are now bringing out
a series of 6-CD themed Britten boxes as a tribute in centenary year. No
doubt it will appear there as well. In the past it has served as a bargain
price Ultraviolet series entry.

Performances and digital recording quality are satisfying. Pešek is
notably tender and favours this aspect over the drama. The first movement
and finale of the Sinfonia are ravishing in this respect.
We are reminded of the finer string writing of Roy Harris and its emotional
kernel as well as the influence of Shostakovich. Pešek is up against
stern analogue competition from another part of the same stable: LSO/Previn.
The latter’s 1970s EMI Classics recording, originally issued
in quadrophonic, remains a force in the land and still sounds wonderful.
Pešek is, by contrast, understated and lacks the last degree of spectacular
bite that I associate with the Previn. Previn’s Anglophile tendencies
were well known though otherwise limited to RVW and Walton; so far as early
20th century Brits are concerned; he never moved into Moeran or Bax territory,
more’s the pity. His Britten in this case was clearly aided by EMI's
elite technical team of the two Christophers - Bishop and Parker. They were
also onsite for Previn's Spring Symphony. Their results form an exemplar
for the control desk fraternity to this day.

All these comments extend to the Grimes pieces. By the way,
I am delighted to see the Passacaglia included. The whole has a suitably
symphonic sound. So far as Britten's own Decca versions are concerned they
are in a class of their own and extend to include the YPG which was not
part of the Previn package. By the way Pešek's YPG is in 6 tracks,
grouping families of variations with one track for each group and for the
Theme and for the final Fugue.

No notes whatsoever from Virgin but these three works make a respectable
and often touching collection. While Previn remains pre-eminent in the Grimes
sequence and the Sinfonia Pešek is much better than merely good.